Loose leaf binder



March 24, 1936. J. A. LARsEN LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed April 5, 1933' INVENTOR. f/K (E cUvQ/Q/a/l/ S Y mam@ Patented Mar. 24, 1936 PATENT OFFIQE LoosE LEAF BINDER Jack A. Larsen, Oakland, Calif., assignor to Mary L. Larsen, Oakland, Calif.

Application April 3, 1933, Serial No. 664,052

2 Claims.

This invention is a loose leaf binder adapted for removal and insertion of leaves until such time as the binder is intended to form a permarient volume, this loose leaf binder having means for permanently locking the binder at will.

An object of the invention is to provide locking means associated with one of the binding posts for locking the binding posts to the binding elements.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description is read on the drawing forming a part of this specification, and in which similar reference characters are used to designate similar parts throughout the several views, of which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one of the binding elements with an intermediate portion removed.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1, including one of the binding posts.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary View taken from the back of Fig. 2 and showing the binding post in section.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of Fig. 3

with the top of the binding post shown in section.

Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view showing the insertable locking means for the securing means.

The invention consists of a binding or cover element IIJ formed of sheet metal, and consisting of a cover element which is formed with a longitudinal passage I2 along the rearward edge, the sheet metal being bent back on itself as indicated at I3 and retracted as at I4, the portion I5 being secured to the portion I I by tongues I6 formed from the portion Il, these tongues being projected through slots Il formed in the portion I 5, the tongues being bent over to secure the two portions together. It will be noted that the portion I3 is arcuately formed, and that the portion between this arcuately formed portion and the retracted portion I4 forms a passage of substantially keyhole form. A plurality of post receiving recesses I8 are formed from the rearward edge, transversely of the binding element and extend into the passage I2 a suflicient distance to permit hinged movement of the binding posts. Suitable apertures I9 are provided for securing the element to suitable covers (not shown).

The releasable hinging means consists of a slide bar 20 slidably disposed in the passage I2, this bar terminating at one end in a detachable section 2|, which is detachable at the weakened junction 22, this junction being weakened to permit convenient breaking of the bar at this point, so that the bar may be pressed in below the terminal end 23 of the cover element I0. The bar 20 is provided with a plurality of spaced recesses each having a clearing portion 24 for clearing the secured binding posts to permit hinged action thereof, and a cooperating portion 25 for aligning the binding post holes with the securing means.

The securing means consists of pins 26 and 2'1, which are secured along the rearward edge 5' of the bar 28, and which pins are slidable in the eye 28 formed by the arcuate portion I3, these pins being so arranged that they will consecutively engage with the series of binding posts disposed in the slots I8. 10

The end of the bar 20 distant from the detachable section 2| is provided with a tooth 29 which is adapted to cooperate With a locking means. It will be noted that the engaging or aligning portions 25 of the recesses formed in the bar 15 20 extend substantially from one end of each recess to a point transversely related to the end of each pin, so that these portions 25 cooperate only When the pins are retracted from the groove I8 or partly retracted. 20

The locking means includes a block 30 which is insertable into the passage I2. This block has a leaf spring 3|, this leaf spring having one end 32 curled to t within a hole 33 formed transversely of the block, the leaf spring extend- 25 ing from this hole through a slot 34 formed from the front of the block to the hole 33, so that the spring is readily removable. I'his spring may readily be replaced by a spring-urged pawl if so desired, however for matters of economy it 30 is desirable to use the construction as indicated. The other end of the spring is. bent forward at an acute angle as indicated at 35 forming an engaging element to `cooperate with the tooth 23, a tongue 36 projecting upwardly from the end 35 of the member 35 in such manner as to form a resilient element for retaining the. members 35 and 2S in positive engagement and causing a reactive pressure to prevent disengagement thereof. The block 38 is limited as to inward 40 movement within the passage by lugs 37 formed inwardly from the walls of the passage I2, these lugs being formed at such a point that the outer face of the block will coincide with the outer edge 38 of the cover element. 45 'Ilhe binding post 39 is of rectangular form as shown, being closed at both ends as indicated at 4|) and 4|, and having transverse apertures 42 formed in spaced relation to each end of the post, and aligned with the eye 28 in such man-A 50 ner as to cooperate with the pins. 2l. Freely slidable within the binding post is a block 43 to which is xedly secured a leaf spring 44, this leaf spring terminating at its opposite ends in 55 arms having angularly formed locking portions 45, these angularly formed ends being in obstructed relation to the holes at the opposite ends of the binding posts, and being adapted to cooperate with a shoulder 46 formed on the 60 securing or hinge pin, only one of this type of pin being provided in each cover element.

The locating means consists of a groove 41 formed in each side of the binding post parallel to and in transverse alignment with each hole, these grooves being adapted to cooperate with the inner edge 25 of the pin recesses in the bars 20, so that the binding posts may be readily located relative to the pins 26 and 21.

The operation of the device is as follows:

The binding posts are consecutively secured in one of the cover elements, it being necessary only to place the binding post in the slot and then move the binding post until the groove 41 cooperates with a member 25, which will bring the pin 21 in alignment with the hole in one end of the binding post. The bar 2G is then moved in slightly, just sufficient to retain the binding post, and another binding post is inserted in the next adjacent recess I8, the bar being again moved to cooperate until all of the binding posts are secured, the bar 2B being moved in to its limit, where the surface 48 of the finger element 2| abuts against the surface 23. At this point, the terminal end iii of the spring rests on the portion 49 of the pin and will not drop over to engage the shoulder 46, being prevented by the limited movement of the bar due to the member 48, the locking member 39 not being incorporated in the assembly at such time also cannot lock the device. This bar may be removed at any time to permit the removal or insertion of additional sheets or leaves within the book, and when the book has become lled or it is desired to make a permanent volume thereof, either the end 48 is broken off and the bar 2S forced in beyond the edge 23, to the point where the spring end l5 cooperates with the shoulder 35, where the locking post is used, or the end 28 is broken off and the locking member 3Q is inserted in the upper end 33, the tooth portion 35 of the spring 3| riding over the inclined surface 5t of the tooth 29 and engaging the tooth, the block 38 being limited as to movement by the lugs 31.

It will be noted that this locking device permanently locks the binding posts in the cover element and that there is no means for releasing this locking device other than actual wrecking or cutting away a portion of the device as the bar and locking means are mutually cooperative and interlock, the one end 5l of each of the recesses forming a stop against the post and preventing movement of the bar toward the locking means and the locking means being secured against movement toward the bar by the projections 31. The tongue 52 prevents insertion of any element through the slot i8 to release the spring member 35, therefore the device is permanently locked and the binding posts are non-removable.

It will be noted that plain binding posts merely having a transverse aperture adjacent each end may be used in place of the binding posts shown, however it is preferable to use one of the locking binding posts such as that shown in the drawing with each assembly of loose leaf binder.

It will be noted that the binding posts are releasably hinged to the cover elements and that the locking means is insertable in each covei` element and permanently locks the binding posts against removal from the cover elements, and that the locking means is non-removable and nonreleasable after insertion. Alsothat the releasable means consisting of the bar 29 and pins 26, 21 has integral locating means for pivotally aligning the binding posts in the cover elements to facilitate assembly, and that the portions 24 of the recesses clear the binding posts, when the bar 20 is moved to its innermost position when the binding posts are secured in the cover element, and thereby permits hinged movement of the Y binding posts when secured. The post engaging portion 25 will locate the post transversely7 as related to the pivot, and the groove 41 will locate the post vertically relative to the post engaging portion 25, and the post engaging portion is out of cooperative relation when the posts are secured in position.

Having described an operative device it will be understood that variations in the construction and arrangement of parts which are consistent with the appended claims may be resorted to without detracting from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacricing any of the advantages thereof.

I claim:

1. A loose-leaf binder comprising a pair of cover elements each provided with a longitudinal passage having post receiving apertures therein, slide bars in the respective passages, each provided with post-engaging pins, one of said pins on each bar being shouldered, the normal length of each slide bar being greater than the length of its passage, said pins being held in predetermined positions with respect to said apertures, each slide bar having a projected removable portion at one end for normally limiting longitudinal movement thereof in one direction, posts insertable into said apertures and pivotally engageable with said pins, spring locking arms located within one of the posts and provided with free ends so as to be engageable with the shouldered portions of the shouldered pins of both slide bars, said locking arms and said shoulders, and the removable portions of the slide bars being so relatively proportioned that the spring arms are engageable with the shoulder of the pin of either slide bar after the projecting end thereof has been removed and the slide bar has been moved longitudinally in its passage beyond the limit of movement normally imposed by said removable portion.

2. A loose-leaf binder comprising a pair of cover elements each provided with a longitudinal passage having post receiving apertures therein, slide bars in the respective passages each provided with post-engaging pins, one of said pins on each bar being shouldered the normal length of each slide bar being greater than the length of its passage, said pins being held in predetermined positions with respect; to said apertures, each slide bar having a removable end portion projected from the passage for normally limiting longitudinal movement of the slide bar in one direction, hollow posts insertable into said apertures and pivotally engageable with said pins, a block slidably mounted in one of the posts and having oppositely extended spring arms provided with angular ends capable of engaging the shouldered portions of the shouldered pins of both slide bars, said block and said shoulders, and the removable portions being so relatively positioned that the spring arms are engageable with the shoulder of the pin of either bar after the projecting end portion thereof has been removed and said slide bar has been longitudinally adjusted in its passage beyond the limit of normal movement imposed by said removable portion.

JACK A. LARSEN. 

